Sara Duterte business records are expected to receive renewed attention as the Senate impeachment court prepares to hear the Vice President’s defense on Monday, November 9. A corporate counsel of GenCorp Industries Inc. is expected to miss the scheduled proceedings after citing a medical examination, potentially moving her anticipated testimony to a later hearing date.

The corporate counsel of GenCorp Industries Inc. is expected to miss the opening day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense presentation in her impeachment trial on Monday, November 9, after citing a scheduled medical examination.

Atty. Suzette Balucanag-Punay, who also serves as corporate counsel for Metro City Chow Foods Corporation, was included in the defense’s list of intended witnesses for the November 9 to 13 hearings. She is expected to discuss corporate and business matters involving the two companies and Duterte’s alleged interests in them.

House Lead Prosecutor Representative Gerville Luistro confirmed that the prosecution had received notice of Punay’s expected absence. The lawyer reportedly has a scheduled magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination.

Her testimony is considered relevant because the defense intends to present corporate documents covering the companies’ business activities and financial records from 2022 to 2025.

Corporate records at the center of the case

According to the defense’s witness list, Punay is expected to produce General Information Sheets (GIS), audited financial statements and other corporate records of GenCorp Industries and Metro City Chow Foods.

These documents could provide information about the companies’ ownership structures, corporate officers, financial condition and business operations.

The records are particularly relevant to Article II of the impeachment complaint, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth, inaccurate asset declarations and failure to divest from business interests. Duterte has denied the accusations against her.

GenCorp has also attracted attention because of government procurement transactions involving the company. Records concerning its transactions with the Davao City local government, PhilHealth Region 10 and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region 11 have been admitted into the impeachment court’s documentary evidence.

However, the admission of these records does not establish that any wrongdoing occurred. The court has emphasized that the senator-judges will determine the evidentiary weight of the documents and whether they support the prosecution’s allegations.

Defense prepares to challenge financial allegations

The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to resume proceedings at 10 a.m. on November 9, with Duterte’s defense beginning its presentation of evidence on the remaining impeachment charge.

The prosecution previously withdrew three of the four articles of impeachment, leaving Article II as the focus of the continuing proceedings.

This remaining charge centers on allegations involving Duterte’s financial disclosures, business interests and wealth.

On November 6, the impeachment court admitted several categories of documentary evidence, including Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), bank and corporate records, tax documents, insurance and investment records, and property documents.

The court also admitted procurement records involving GenCorp. It clarified, however, that the acceptance of documents into evidence does not mean the allegations or financial computations presented by the prosecution have been proven.

Other witnesses expected to testify

Aside from Punay, the defense has identified several witnesses who may provide testimony concerning properties and financial matters connected to the case.

Among them are Davao City Assessor Engineer Jaime Adalin and Island Garden City of Samal Assessor Engineer John Kenneth Enumerables. They are expected to discuss property tax declarations and tax maps involving properties previously raised during the prosecution’s presentation.

Their testimony could help the defense address questions about property ownership, assessments and related records.

Punay’s absence does not automatically mean the November 9 hearing will be postponed. Other witnesses are also included in the defense’s planned presentation.

The proceedings are expected to provide further details about the corporate and financial records being used by both sides as the impeachment court examines the remaining allegations against the Vice President.